Steam-cylinder drain-valve.



(Appumtim mea Nov. 1e, 1899.)

(NoModal) UNITED l STATES PATENT OFFICE.

HENRY V MCCYOMBS, OF BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS.

STEAM-CYLINDER DRAIN-VALVE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letterslratent No. 651,878, dated J' une 19, 1900.

Application filed Novemherl, 1899. Serial No. 737,209. (No model.)

To all wwnt it may concern,.-

Be it known that I, HENRY W. MCCoMBs, a citizen of the United States of America, and a resident of Boston, in the county of Su lfolk and Commonwealth of Massachusetts, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Steam-Cylinder Drain-Valves, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to improvements in apparatus used in draining the cylinders of locomotives, stationary'and marine engines, and in other allied uses whereit becomes necessary to liberate the moisture from the cylinders. Y o Y The objects of my invention are to effectually and quickly empty the cylinders of the condensed steam through the employment of improved drain-valves actuated by steam or compressed air through pipes communieating therewith and whose action is governed by a supply-cock located in the cab or engine-room, where it can be manually operated by the engineer. I attain these objects by the mechanism illustrated4 in the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 represents in perspective a locomotive equipped with my improved apparatus. Fig. 2 designates the supply-cock in transverse central section governing the supply of steam or air to the cylinder-valves in a position to open the steam-cylinder cocks, Fig. 3 beinga similar View, but with the steam or air ducts in reversed position to close said cylinder-cocks. Fig. 4 is also alike view with the ducts in normal position and the ports closed. Fig. 5 is a side elevation of the four- Way supply-cock and its connections. Fig. 6 illustrates a front elevation of the same to exhibit the method of prescribing the movements of the operating-lever, Fig. .2A being a side elevation or external View of one of the cylinder-valves and Fig. 2C asimilar position of a like Valve in longitudinal section, with the ordinary cylinder-cocks in vertical central section supporting said cylinder-valves, each of the latter views being supplementary and forming a part of Fig. 2.

(lorresponding letters of reference designate like features throughout the several views, referring to whichd A represents a locomotive, in the cab of which is located the engineers supply-cock,

placed in any convenient position, as at B.

` Steam or air pipes C C connect said supplycock with the cylinder-valves D D, situated vat the lower line of each of the steam-cylinders. The functions of the several pipes, valves, and cocks with their construction will lappeal' in the further description, commencing with Fig. 2 herein. The situation of the leverE indicatesthe open position of the valve I in the cylinder-cocks J, the plug F being semirotated from its normal position,

Fig. 4, so that the lower end of its transverse duct F communicates with the pipes O and its upper end with the port B communicating with the pipe G, leading from the steam or air supply accessibly situated in the locolplugs H l-I in a direction to open thevalves I of the cylinder-cocks J J in the position shown in Fig. 2C. Obviously any series of cylinder-valves connected with the several steam-cylinders are in like manner actuated; but for the purpose of this description I confine myself to the duplicate valves Aillustrated. v

Should the operating- (hand) leverE of the supply-cock B be reversed to the position shown in Fig. 3, then its transverse duct F2 is rotated to a position establishing communication from the steam or air supply through the pipe G, port B, to port B2, to pipes C, duct CS, and cylinder-valve-chamber ends D2, D2, such action simultaneously reversing the former position of the sliding taper plugs H H, and thus closes the valves I I of the cylinder-cocks J. The open position of said valves is well observed in Fig. 2C. Here the valvestem K is raised by the plug H, lifting the valve I from its seat L and openi-ng the cylinder-cock port J, permitting the condensation to escape from the steam cylinders through the drain-vents M M.- Drip-vents R R serve to keep the cylinder-valve free from any excess of moisture that may pass through the vents M M.

Reverting again to Fig. 2, the position of the radial duct F3 opens into the port B2 and into t-he pipes C C in such position that the IOO surplus of the steam or air which actuated the taper sliding plug H H, if any, remains inthe cylinder-valve chambers D2, returns by the supply-cock B through the medium of the stud and nut T, as in Fig. 6.

To change the position of the plugs H H i independently of steam or air pressure, they may be manually actuated by the hand-rods U U',-prope rly packed through the ends of the cylinders D D, the ends of said rods being'secured to the ends of the several plugs.

To-secure the lever E from accidental displacement, a spring-actuated pin O, Figs. 5 and 6, is inserted in the inner side of the lever-shank O', whichv falls into a recess P in the'face of the supply-cock B, (when in its l normal position,) while the spurs or ribs Q Q prescribe the swing of the lever E within the radius of its proper action. v

The normal position of the supply-cock B when the train is in motion is as exhibited V and convenience when repairs are necessary than in similar devices at presentin use, and while I have illustrated the preferred method of constructing my invention I desire not to be coniined tothe strictinterpretation there- 45 of as herein lset forth, but may employ such equivalents therefor as would come Within the fair scope and spirit of my invention.

Having described my invention, I desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States and claimv l. The 'supply-cock provided with a revolublc taper plug having two transverse ducts and two radial communicating ducts, the transverse ducts adapted to admit air or steam alternately to each end of the cylindervalve chambers, to reciprocate the cylindervalve plugs to open or close the cylindercocks; Vthe said cylinder valve chambers, the cylinder-valve plugs 4reciproca-ting therein, the cylinder-cocks in conjunction therewith, and the radial ducts adapted and arranged to receive air or steam from the chamber of the cylinder-valve as and for the purpose set forth. p

2. In combination with a supply-cock plug provided with transverse and radial ducts adapted to simultaneously transmit air to one end of the cylinder-valve chamber and to receive it from the other end, the supply-cock Ibody B provided with spurs to limit the semirotation of the operating-lever E, means toV temporarily secure said lever to a central ornormal position,the cylinder-valve chambers,

the cylinder-valve plugs'v operating in said chambers, and the cylinder-cocks adapted when the said cylinder-valve plugs are actuated simultaneously to liberate the condensation in the steam-cylinders or to prevent the steam from escaping therefrom substantially as specified.

Signed by me at Boston, Massachusetts, this 14th day o f November, 1899.

HENRY W. MCCOMBS. 

